Kmart’s struggles date back to 1994, when the company closed 110 stores partly due to its failure to utilize computer technology for managing its supply chain. Additionally, the company maintained a high dividend, making it difficult to invest additional funds for improving its stores to keep up with more modern trends.

In 2002, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and successfully emerged from bankruptcy as the Kmart Holdings Corp. over a year later. Following its emergence from bankruptcy protection, the company closed over 300 stores in the United States, impacting approximately 34,000 of its employees.

At the time, Kmart also experimented with several prototype locations that featured improvements, including a new logo, layout, color scheme, wider aisles and an improved selection. The prototype locations never saw a broad rollout, due to the company’s weak financial state.

This week, the local Kmart store joined the ranks of those locations (150 more announced recently) to be shuttered.

And so, Kmart closing its doors along the busy (for Clinton County) commercial strip on Hogan Boulevard marks another milestone in the retail life of our local economy.

The store in the Millbrook Plaza has been an alternative to Walmart for those shoppers who want local shopping options.

Kmart’s predicament is amplified by the store chain’s failure to attract more shoppers despite being taken over by what many thought was a near impenetrable brand: Sears.

But Sears has even sold its iconic Craftsman-brand tools.

Just yesterday, J.C. Penney announced more store closings, including the Penney’s at the Lycoming Mall.

The Kmart store has nearly 100,000 square feet of space, and we’re told Millbrook Plaza owners Zamagias Properties is willing to partition the space based on a new tenant’s needs.

The Clinton County Economic Partnership already has begun marketing the site, with the owner’s blessing.

Kmart’s lease expires June 30, but if their liquidation sales go well, they’ll be out sooner.

So what might come in Kmart’s place? Our guess is as good as anyone’s, but frankly, we’re not optimistic.

Malls are on the sale block; many big box retailers are closing mall stores.